Liam Watson salutes historic AFC Telford

First-half goals from Andy Parry and Tony Gray in tonight's first round replay at home to Basingstoke Town set up a trip to the League One leaders next month.

The victory also netted the club £18,000 in prize money and a first appearance in the second round but they earned it the hard way.

Louis Soares pulled one back for the visitors and Telford then lost midfielder Mike Grogan to a second bookable offence in a torrid second-half.

And Watson said: "I am happy, relieved, proud. I said before the game that I didn't care if we played well or badly. We just needed to win this game.

"If you are looking at the amount of money at stake, it is probably the most expensive game of football I have ever been involved in.

"And it was hard to keep that pressure away from the players because we were expected to win.

"So I am pleased for the chairman, (managing director) Lee (Carter) and the board because they have backed me throughout the course of the season."

"It helps them out, helps the finances out and helps me to hopefully strengthen in January.

"And it also gives the players a lot of credit and gives the fans a day out and I hope they really enjoy it."

Watson was delighted with the togetherness shown by his players, who have been dogged by injury problems in recent weeks.

And he highlighted the performance of skipper Steve Akrigg, who impressed on his return from a six-week injury lay-off.

He said: "Steve Akrigg has been out for six-and-a-half weeks.He hasn't trained and I think that was his best performance in a Telford shirt."